Michael James  

ARTIST STATEMENT Experiences living in the United States and abroad greatly influence each of my Abstract paintings. As I begin to focus on the rhythmic breathing of a bare canvas my images mature, developing to a point where a passion to lay the first crucial stroke overwhelms me. When I lay that first stroke an evolvement commences, guiding me on a journey, a journey revealing another, often intrinsic, facet of my life. I attempt to convey images through a variation of devices, textures, composition, and juxtaposition of colors, always seeking to create a pure visual expression that distills art to it’s essence. . What is directed, hopefully, is a pleasing and uplifting creative endeavor that provides a unique pleasure for each observer. I’m most fortunate, for me each painting brings me a little closer to who I am, why I’m here, and where I need to be.